Rayola Hodgkinson Andersen

One of the greatest Hodgkinson Reunions happened on September 19, 2016.  Where was it held?  With the passing of Rayola Hodgkinson Andersen all ten children of Lewis and Mina Hodgkinson have been reunited in Heaven with their parents.  They were a very close knit family growing up in Vernal Utah.  I have always liked the symmetry in the sibling pictures, like the one above - five girls and five boys. (What is my dad looking at? Yeah he is the handsome one on the right.) My dad taught us to say their names in order and as fast as we could. There was a nice little cadence with names broken into two person couplets.   Hilda, Lowell, Ralph, Reed, Wilma, Grant, Mary, Melvin, Rayola, Doris.  Rayola was my dad's little sister and a good friend of my mom's. Bev and Rayola went to Murray High School together and then both got their nursing degree from the University of Utah. 

She was a remarkable woman.  Here are just a few facts about her from her obituary.

Murray, UT-Rayola Hodgkinson Andersen, 89, went beyond this earthly veil on September 19, 2016 to reunite with her husband, parents, siblings and dear friends. She endured to the end being subjected to dementia, several surgeries, and finally—complications from shingles.
Rayola was born in Vernal (as a country bumpkin) and relocated to Murray in her early teens where she commenced a lifelong career in nursing. Her joy and passion never diminished in this field. She was continually being recognized for personal outstanding achievements. She received numerous prestigious awards honoring her dedication and excellence for improving her professional organization.
Her nursing career included: 18 years at LDS Hospital, advancing to Director of Nursing; 20 years as a teacher at the College of Nursing for BYU; 18 years as a hospice nurse for terminally-ill patients. She was the first independent Nurse Practitioner in the state of Utah with an office to practice nursing.
Throughout her life, Rayola traveled the world with her husband, siblings, and grandchildren. She served three missions for the LDS Church to Norway, Magna, and Australia. After retiring, she went on several humanitarian excursions, taking her to China, Africa, Mexico, and an Indian reservation.
In her spare time, Rayola loved: gardening, fishing, raising fowls, her 16 grandchildren, her 12 great-grandchildren, plus twins due in the New Year. Widowed over 45 years ago, she is survived by her four natural children: Karla Andersen, Katherine (Bud) Sadler, Klarise (Mark) Richmond, and Kail (Linda)Andersen, and her two Navajo children: LaVale Footracer and Adam Swofford.